|
Dear friends and supporters of the deaf ministry:
It’s about time to update my last letter and report on what is happening. I
did a lot of traveling to start the year. First of all, I attended the 50th
anniversary of Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf in Jamaica, and
attended the board meetings. It was a wonderful celebration of what God
has done over the past 50 years for and with the deaf. Now we are seeing
much fruit of the ministry as many of the students go into Christian
service, teach at the schools, and attend the newly-formed New Life
Baptist Church there at the village. The pastor is a young man whom
Bruce and I raised while we were there. His wife also went through the
school and had more education in the US and is a counselor to the deaf.
There is also another couple in college in Ga. preparing to go into the
pastorate with the deaf when they return after graduation. There is a need
for deaf churches around Jamaica as well as a big need for churches in
other islands. We have had camps in St. Vincent, Grenada, Antigua,
Barbados, Trinidad but thus far there is no church for the deaf that we
know of. Jim and Paula Hardy, early missionaries to the deaf in Jamaica,
were present with 15 of their family. What a joy for them to come back,
and also for us to see them. Mrs. Ethridge whose husband started CCCD,
also spoke briefly to huge crowd assembled. There was also a service of
Thanksgiving at the Baptist church in Mandeville where many spoke
including former staff, board members, former students.
In February I went to Georgia to represent CCCD at a mission conference
in Canton, Ga. It is thrilling to be able to share the ministry with others
and get new support for the on-going deaf work. In March I made my
annual trip to Florida, spoke in three supporting churches, visited friends
and relatives before returning home.
Sign language classes started in March and we had about 15 people all in
all. We always have new people desiring to learn which is good. This
year we had to find a new place because my church closed in January. In
the fall we will be meeting at my new church and I believe some will be
coming to learn also. We have a deaf man in the church so many need to
learn signs.
In April I went to West Virginia for Open House and annual meeting of the
US Board of CCCD. It was my first time there and so good to see the
work on this end done by these faithful people.
Deaf retreat is coming up in two weeks. The speaker this year is Jim
Bracelin from Philadelphia. He is a missionary to the deaf in the northeast
and has great rapport with the deaf. The theme is GETTING READY
FOR BATTLE and we will be studying the armor of God for Christians.
In May I went to a mission conference at Berean Bible Bapt. Church in
Atlanta where I gave a report on the ministry for the year; then I went to
the graduation at Harvest Deaf Bible College in Ringgold, Ga. where one
of our former CCCD students graduated. She will be returning to Jamaica
to teach at the school. So that was a real joy to some more fruit.
Tomorrow night my choir has a concert in Batavia, NY; in June I will be
working at Special Friends Camp, then Deaf Retreat. Then camp opens
June 28 and I will be there for the summer interpreting and playing piano.
I do thank you for your faithful support that keeps this ministry helping the
deaf spiritually and in other ways. I continue to send out the devotional
books which are getting more expensive but everyone loves them, so can’t
cut back on that. I continue to visit in homes, interpret wherever needed,
and interpret in church ministry. Pray for wisdom and strength for the
board and myself.
Yours for the deaf,
Lois Dungan
A copy of latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, from the organization, or the Office of the Attorney General, 120 Broadway, NY, NY 10271.
|